Burke man sentenced for sexual offense

A Burke County man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after being convicted this week of statutory sexual offense involving a teenager.

Richard Neil Arney, 33, of Valdese, was charged in connection with an incident in August 2012. At the time, Valdese police said the victim was a 15-year-old girl who was a friend of Arney’s family.

Prosecutors said Arney was sentenced to between 15 years 10 months and 24 years in prison. After his release from prison, he will be required to register with the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry for 30 years. Observer staff reports

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